Intersex Aotearoa's submission for the Definition of Woman And Man Ammendement Bill - June 2026

Intersex Aotearoa have submitted to the Select Committee on the "Definitions of Woman & Man". You can read our submission attached, but in summary;

 

The Bill claims to reflect “biological reality”, but ignores intersex people and the reality of human sex development. Intersex variations are natural biological outcomes, not exceptions, defects, or legal afterthoughts.

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By forcing all people into a strict male/female binary across New Zealand law, the Bill risks creating legal uncertainty, weakening existing protections, and excluding intersex people from recognition in law, healthcare, and public life.

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We are calling on the Committee to recommend that the Bill does not proceed. Any future law must recognise intersex variations of sex characteristics as a co-equal part of normal human development.

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Remember whānau, submissions are due by 2nd July, so if you haven't had a chance to make submission yet then please take the opportunity! If you are struggling to wrote your own submission, then you can use Qtopia's guide to get you started: https://qtopia.org.nz/news/submission-guide-legislation-definition-of-woman-amp-man-amendment-bill

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